Hello Again,
One of my favorite magazines is National Geographic www.nationalgeographic.com. Not just because of the amazing photography, but because I get a bunch of ideas and insights that I can use to improve my business (talks, blog, products, articles, etc) and personal life. This month’s issue includes a listing of safety advances since the first U.S. automobile accident resulting in a pedestrian fatality to Volvo’s prediction that it will have an “injury free” automobile by 2020. Now, that’s not the part of the magazine this month that gave me a cool idea. In fact, it didn’t do much for me at all. It was the article on orchids and how deceptive they can be in luring insects to spread their pollen that stirred my imagination.
I gave a talk last week to a group of safety and health leaders at Imperial Oil. I used the Orchids ability to manipulate insects as examples of ways we can encourage our employees to improve their safety and health behavior. Orchids are masters at getting insects (and other creatures with brains) to do what they want. (Spread their pollen.) They do it by “knowing” what insects want and using that to their advantage. We can do the same. What do people want–attention, recognition, and a sense of purpose.
I then explained how, we can increase our influence as safety leaders by tapping into these basic desires by listening better, displaying more unique appreciation and being a living example of an energetic and optimistic person. This Orchid metaphor was captivating, unusual and fun. I thought of it only because I kept my mind open to new talk ideas while reading National Geographic.
My tip for you: Don’t just read “Safety and Health” magazines to get ideas. Spread out. Read all kinds of stuff. Pick up a magazine you’ve never read before. Randomly check out web sites on topics starting with the letter P or go to a book store and go to a section you’ve never looked through before.
Not only will you come up with interesting ideas for your meetings and who know what else, but you’ll also expand your mental horizon and have something to talk about besides recent OSHA regs.
Let me know some of the ways you come up with imaginative ideas. I’d love to hear from you.
’till next time.
Richard
